Rafa Luz
Rafael Freire Luz (born February 11, 1992), commonly known as Rafa Luz, is a Brazilian-Spanish professional basketball player for MoraBanc Andorra of the LEB Oro. He is a point guard.
Luz with Obradoiro, in 2013. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MoraBanc Andorra | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Point guard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | LEB Oro | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | February 11, 1992 Araçatuba, Brazil | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Brazilian / Spanish | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 208 lb (94 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2009–present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2012 | Unicaja | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | →Axarquía | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | →CB Granada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | →Lucentum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2015 | Obradoiro | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Flamengo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Baskonia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Franca | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Andorra | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Murcia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Nevėžis Kėdainiai | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Bilbao Basket | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–present | Andorra | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Early years
Rafa Luz, the brother of several international players for the Brazilian national women's team, was called up to the Brazilian national under-18 team, at the age of 15.
In October 2009, after spending two seasons with Unicaja's junior youth teams, Luz got a Spanish passport.[1]
Professional career
Luz signed for the 2010–11 ACB season with the Spanish club Unicaja, but he ended up playing with the club's farm team, Clínicas Rincón. In March 2011, he was loaned to the Spanish club CB Granada, until the end of the season. There, he averaged 4.8 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game in the Spanish ACB League. In August 2011, Unicaja loaned him to Spanish club Lucentum Alicante. Luz averaged 5.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game in the 2011–12 ACB season.
In August 2012, Luz ended his contract with Unicaja Málaga, and signed a new contract with Spanish club Blu:sens Monbús Obradoiro.[2] He played with the Galician team until 2015, when he left Spain, and returned to Brazil, after signing a new one-year deal with Flamengo of the Brazilian NBB league.
In July 2016, Luz signed a two-year deal with the Spanish club Baskonia.[3] In July 2017, Luz split up from the Basque entity.[4]
On July 19, 2018, Luz signed with MoraBanc Andorra of the Liga ACB.[5] On July 16, 2019, Luz signed a two-year deal with UCAM Murcia.[6]
On February 28, 2021, he has signed with Nevėžis Kėdainiai of the Lithuanian Basketball League.[7]
On July 14, 2021, he has signed with Bilbao Basket of the Liga ACB.[8]
National team career
Luz was a part of the senior men's Brazilian national basketball team that won the silver medal at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship, which was held in Mar del Plata, Argentina. He also played at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, the 2015 Pan American Games, where he won a gold medal, and the 2016 Summer Olympics.[9]
References
- ^
- ^ Rafa Freire: "Me identifico con la filosofía del Obradoiro"; Hoy.es. 22 August 2012. Retrieved: 16 July 2016 (in Spanish).
- ^ "Rafa Luz is the second signing for the 2016-17 season - Saski Baskonia". Saski Baskonia. July 15, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
- ^ "¡Gracias por todo, Rafa Luz! - Saski Baskonia". Saski Baskonia (in European Spanish). July 3, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- ^ "ACB.COM - Luz para el MoraBanc Andorra". www.acb.com (in European Spanish). July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ^ "Ucam Murcia signs Rafa Luz". Sportando. July 19, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ Lupo, Nicola (February 28, 2021). "Rafa Luz reportedly close to signing with Nevezis". Sportando. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
- ^ Carchia, Emiliano (July 14, 2021). "Rafa Luz joins Bilbao Basket". Sportando. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
- ^ Rafael LUZ (BRA).
External links
- Rafa Luz February 26, 2019, at the Wayback Machine at acb.com (in Spanish)
- Rafa Luz at eurobasket.com
- Rafa Luz at euroleague.net